I beam nesting and stacking method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

I beams are nested and stacked in horizontal bundles preliminary to transporting and storing them by arranging a selected number of I beams in side by side substantially aligned relation to each other. The I beams then are advanced laterally while shifting the leading I beam edgewise until its chords lie in a different plane than do the chords of the immediate following I beam. The two I beams then are telescoped together. The following I beams are similarly nested to provide an I beam assembly which may be tied into a bundle.

United States Patent 11 1 Peters et a1.

[ I BEAM NESTING AND STACKING METHOD AND APPARATUS [75] Inventors:Charles W. Peters; Larry K. Ebert,

both of Eugene, Oreg.

[73] Assignee: Trus Joist Corporation, Boise, Idaho [22] Filed: Apr. 20,1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,879

[52] US. Cl 198/35, 100/2, 214/65 [51] Int. Cl. 1. B65g 57/16 [58] Fieldof Search 198/35, 34; 214/65, 7, 214/105 R; 100/2, 7; 206/386, 526, 527;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1971 Herendeen ..198/354/1973 Cleland ..214/6.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,090,681 Great Britain 198/35 1 Mar.4,1975 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant E.\'amt'ner-Richard K,Thomson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eugene D. Farley [57] ABSTRACT I beamsare nested and stacked in horizontal bundles preliminary to transportingand storing them by arranging a selected number ofI beams in side byside substantially aligned relation to each other. The l beams then areadvanced laterally while shifting the leading I beam edgewise until itschords lie in a different plane than do the chords of the immediatefollowing 1 beam. The two I beams then are telescoped to' gether. Thefollowing I beams are similarly nested to provide an I beam assemblywhich may be tied into a bundle.

21 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTED I 75 L m OI I BEAM NESTING ANDSTACKING METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to method and apparatus for nesting and stacking I beams,particularly wooden I beams, so that they may be transported and storedwith facility.

With the advent of automated machinery for producing wooden I beams ofgreat length, i.e., ofthe order of 80 feet or more, it has becomeimportant to develop an automated method for nesting the beams withtheir chords in lapped relation so that they may be moved about andstored with convenience and economy. This is a matter of considerabledifficulty in view of the great length of the beams and theirsubstantial weight.

It accordingly is the general object of the present invention to providemethod and apparatus for nesting and stacking structural I beams inbundles of a conve nient size for transportation and storage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide method andapparatus for nesting structural I beams as they are produced on thelarge scale in a commercial production line at a nesting rate which iscommensurate with the production rate, without damaging the I beams, andusing a minimum of operating persnnel.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision ofapparatus for nesting and bundling on an automated basis structural Ibeams which are of such great length and weight that they may be nestedand bundled manually only with great difficulty and with potentialhazard to the handlers.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects ofthe invention are accomplished by the provision of a method for nestingI beams which basically comprises first arranging a plurality ofl beamsin side by side substantially aligned relation to each other. The lbeams then are advanced laterally As they are advanced, the leading orfirst I beam is shifted edgewise until its component chords lie in adifferent plane than do the chords of the immediately following orsecond I beam. Next the second I beam is advanced relative to theleading I beam until the leading portions of its chords lap the trailingportions of the chords ofthe leading I beam. The next succeeding orthird I beam then is advanced laterally relative to the second I beam inthe plane ofthe first I beam until the leading portions of its chordslap the trailing portions of the chords of the second I beam. Thissequence is repeated until the selected number ofl beams have beentelescoped together and nested in an aggregate assembly having aconvenient size for bundling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1a and lb are views in side elevationof the hereindescribed I beam nesting apparatus, partly broken away toshow interior construction, FIG. lb being a continuation of FIG. la,taken along lines 1a,1a and lb,lb, respectively of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are plan views of the apparatus, partly in section andpartly broken away, FIG. 2b being a continuation of FIG. 2a, looking inthe direction of the arrows of lines 2a,2a and 2b, 2b, respectively, ofFIGS. la and lb.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation taken along line 33 of FIG.2a and illustrating particularly an I beam infeed and rotating conveyersubassembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, detailed, transverse sectional view of the samesubassembly, taken along line 44 of FIG. la.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detail, transverse fragmentary sectional viewtaken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 2b.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the operating layout including thehereindescribed I beam nesting and stacking apparatus as a component.

, FIGS. 8-16 inclusive are sequential diagrammatic views illustratingthe manner of operation of the hereindescribed apparatus and FIG. 17 isa view in side elevation taken along line l7l7 of FIG. 7 andillustrating a sensing unit which is a part of the control for theapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The General Plan The general planof a plant installation which includes the hereindescribed I beamnesting and stacking apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 7.

The apparatus is designed to nest-and stack a predetermined number of Ibeams indicated generally throughout the drawings at 20 (see especiallyFIG. In). As noted above, the I beams normally comprise wooden I beamsof great length, for example 40-100 feet in length, and of substantialweight and strength. Each I beam comprises an upper chord 22, a lowerchord 24 and a connecting web 26.

Such I beams presently are the subject matter of automated apparatus fortheir manufacture. In this procedure the opposite side margins ofplywood webs are inserted into glue moistened grooves in the opposedside faces ofa pair of traveling chords. The chords and webs then areassembled into I beams which leave the machine in aself sustainingcondition, but one in which the glue has not been fully cured. The finalstep in the manufacturing procedure is to pass the I beams through anoven at a rate predetermined to set the glue.

As the finished I beams leave the forming machine. they are stackedflatwise with their respective chords bearing against each other in astack of predetermined height. In the illustrative example the verticalstack 20a contains eleven I beams, all with their glue contentincompletely cured.

The stack is placed on a conveyor 28 which feeds it laterally into anoven indicated schematically at 30. The oven is fitted with doors 32, 34at its entrance and exit respectively. The I beams are moved into theoven on conveyer 28 and remain there a sufficient length of time to curethe glue. The vertical stack 20b contains eleven cured I beams. It isconveyed away from the oven and transferred to the hereindescribednesting apparatus.

The nesting operation is continuous, the I beams passing through thenesting apparatus laterally and in sequence. They are nested in groupscontaining a sufficient number of component I beams to provide afinished bundle of desired size. In the example, the bundle contains 33I beams and accordingly is composed of three of stacks 20b.

The progression of the I beams through the apparatus is illustrated inFIG. 7. A turned horizontal stack contains eleven 1 beams. Unnested Ibeams, seven of them, are indicated at 20c. Nested I beams, four ofthem, are indicated at 20d. A completely nested group of 33 l beams isindicated at 20e.

The nested group in its aggregated condition is discharged from theapparatus, wrapped with ties, which normally comprise stout metalstraps, and the resulting bundle 20f transferred by crane to railroadcar, truck or storage.

The apparatus of the invention basically comprises three majorsubassemblies.

The first is a rotating infeed conveyer subassembly, indicated generallyat A, which receives each vertical stack 20b from oven 30, rotates it 90to the condition of a horizontal stack, and feeds the I beams on edgeinto the nesting unit of the assembly.

The second is the nesting subassembly, indicated generally at B. Thishas for its function telescoping the adjacent l beams laterally with thechords of alternate ones in a first plane and the chords of theintermediate ones in a second plane, thus compacting the I beams so thatthey are more easily handled and require less space.

The third subassembly, indicated generally at C, is the off-bearingconveyer. It has for its function transferring the nested I beams to abundling and loading station where they are tied together and carriedaway by the crane.

Considering these in order:

The Rotating Infeed Subassembly As noted above, the rotating infeedconveyer subassembly has for its function receiving from oven 30 avertical stack ofl beams 20b arranged flatwise face to face. rotating itthrough 90, thereby converting it to a horizontal stack wherein the lbeams are placed on edge, and transferring the I beams in continuousflow to the nesting subassembly. Its construction and manner ofoperation are indicated particularly in FIGS. la, 20, 3 and 4.

The rotating infeed conveyer subassembly A is mounted on a common framewith the nesting subassembly B. These frames are multiple, laterallyacross the machine, as seen in FIG. 7. There are four in the illustratedembodiment. However, this number can be varied as desired depending uponsuch factors as the length and weight of the I beams being processed.

Each supporting frame comprises a pair of longitudinally extending,laterally spaced, parallel channel members 40 tied together by tieplates 42. The resulting composite longitudinal frame member issupported on a plurality of spaced posts 44, 46, 48.

At the upstream end of the frame there is mounted a cradle memberindicated generally at 50. It has for its functions receiving a verticalstack 20b of the l beams, rotating it through 90 and thereby convertingit to a horizontal stack, and transferring the horizontal stack to thedownstream processing units.

In the illustrated form, cradle member 50 comprises pletely across themachine, driving all of the cooperat ing cradle assemblies.

The inner segment is supported in its I beam transferring position by asupport plate 58 which bridges the companion channel beams comprisinglongitudinal frame members 40. Plate 58 also serves as a stop whichprecisely locates the inner segment in the desired operating positionofl beam transfer.

Drive means is provided for shifting cradle member 50 between its twoangular positions, FIG. la. Since all of the component cooperating unitsof the machine may be tied together, a single drive suffices.

As illustrated in FIG. 1a, the reciprocating drive comprises a fluidoperated cylinder, preferably an hydraulic cylinder 60. The base of thecylinder is pivotally connected to a bracket 62 mounted on support post46. The piston rod of the cylinder is pivotally coupled to a bracket 64suitably located on the underside of the angular cradle member.

Reciprocation of the cylinder results in shifting the angular cradlemember through 90, i.e., between the ghosted line receiving position andthe solid line transferring positions of FIG. la. This in turn resultsin shifting the position of the I beams from a vertically stacked faceto face arrangment to a horizontally stacked edge to edge arrangement,as is also apparent in that figure.

Suitable conveying, means is associated with cradle members 50. Thismember of the assembly serves the function of driving the I beams intheir edge-abutting relationship continuously in the machine direction.The construction of the conveying system employed is shown particularlyin FIGS. 3 and 4.

In its horizontal position, upper surface of the inner segment ofangular cradle member 50 merges and is coplanar with the upper surfaceof a pair of skid bars or tracks 68 mounted on the upper surface of thelongitudinal frame member. It is the function of the conveyer associatedwith the cradle member to slide the I beams in a continuous drive offthe cradle member and along skid bars 68. v

For this purpose there is provided a drive trolley indicated generallyat 70, FIGS. 3 and 4. The trolley comprises a vertical support plate 72having a height substantially equal to the height of the'l beams whichit pushes, and a triangular outline in side elevation to develop thedesired strength.

Its front face is notched and receives a pad assembly comprising atransverse mounting plate 74 welded across the leading edge of supportplate 72, a plurality of spacers 76, and a face plate 78 of bearingmaterial designed to bear against and drive the horizontal stack oflbeams. All of these members are held together by means of bolts 80.

The trolley is supported by an H-slide 82 which is integral with thebottom edge of support plate 72. The slide engages a track 84 which isintegral with the inner faces of the component plates of cradle member50.

A suitable drive is provided for reciprocating drive trolley between aretracted position wherein it is received within the outer segment ofcradle member 50, with pad 78 nesting in notch 55 of the outer cradlesegment, i.e., the dashed line position of FIG. 3, and an advancedposition wherein it drives the I beams off the inner segment of thecradle member, i.e., the full line position of FIG. 3.

To accomplish this function, a drive must be provided which can adjustto the angular movement of cradie member 50 as it swings between its twopositions.

Accordingly, there is provided a reciprocating endless chain driveincluding an endless chain 90 the ends of which are pegged to drivetrolley 70 by means of posts 92. The chain is supported on an outeridler sprocket 93, a central idler sprocket 94, and a drive sprocket 96.The latter is keyed to a substantial shaft 98 which may be continuousthrough all of the multiple conveying units of the machine to drive themfrom a single power source.

The power source is indicated in FIG. 10. It comprises a motor 100 whichdrives a cross shaft 102 by means of a chain and sprocket assembly 104.Shaft 102 in turn drives drive shaft 98 and associated sprocket 96 viachain and sprocket assembly 106.

Motor 100 is a reversing motor which accordingly reciprocates I beamdrive trolley 70 between controlled limits of advancement andretraction.

In the operation of the drive trolley, it continuously advances thehorizontal stack ofI beams in the machine direction to the nextprocessing unit. This is the I beam nesting subassembly.

The l Beam Nesting Subassembly The l beam nesting subassembly has forits function shifting the vertical position of alternate ones of the Ibeams to a uniform second plane and then telescoping all of the l beamstogether so that they lie in nested horizontal relation to each other.This makes a stable, compact assembly suitable for bundling and futurehandling.

The I beam nesting subassembly B, FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3 and 5, includes firstconveyer means and second conveyer means, the latter being aligned withthe first and operating as an extension of it. However, it is located ona different plane. The height differential between the planes of the twois somewhat more than the thickness of the component bottom chords ofthe I beams being processed.

The first conveyer means employed in the I beam nesting subassemblycomprises a combination of skid bars 68 supported on longitudinal framemembers 40 and I beam drive trolley 70 which skids the stack of unnestedI beams in edge-abutting relation along the length of the skid bars. Thesecond conveyer means comprises skid bars 110 which also are supportedon longitudinal frame members 40. These serve as extensions of skid bars68, but in a different plane.

At the junction between skid bars 68 and skid bars 110 there is presentan angular break or step 112 over which the I beams must pass. At theinfeed ends of skid bars 110 there is an upwardly inclined ramp 114.Both of these component parts of the nesting subassembly serve to tiltthe moving I beams in such a manner as to facilitate their nesting, aswill be described.

The drive for the l beams in nested condition as they traverse skid bars110 comprises a ram indicated generally at 120. This component of thesubassembly is mounted between longitudinal frames 40 below the plane ofskid bars 68 but above the plane of skid bars 110. It works in the feeddirection and serves three important functions.

First, it serves as a stepwise drive, driving the I beams incrementallyalong the length of skid bars 110. Secend, it serves as an underlyingsupport for the I beams individually as they traverse the step presentbetween skid bars 68 and skid bars 110. Third, it serves as a tiltingcomponent of the assembly which assists in tilting the I beams tofacilitate their nesting.

The construction of ram is shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 5.

It comprises a longitudinally arranged base plate 122 which mounts a pad124. The pad is provided with an inwardly beveled leading clearancesurface 126. Pad 124 also has a horizontal bearing surface 128 whichserves as an underlying support surface for the I beams as they aretransferred from one to the other of the two skid bars.

The leading end of base plate 122 mounts a vertical bearing plate 130which bears against the side edges of the lower chords of the I beamsand pushes them along the skid bars.

Ram 120 is mounted for sliding movement by means of a pair of lateralextensions 132 on each side which serve as slides. The slides work intracks housed by skid bars 68, FIG. 5.

Each track comprises upper and lower track plates 134, 136 made ofa lowfriction material such as Nylon. The track plates are separated by aspacing plate 138. The components of the assembly are clamped togetherin operational relation by means of a clamp plate 140 and clamp bolt142.

Suitable drive means is connected to ram 120 for adjusting it betweenthree positions: The fully extended position of FIG. 1a, the fullyretracted position of FIG. 3, and an intermediate position of FIG. 10 inwhich it is part way extended.

The drive comprises a fluid operated cylinder, specifically an hydrauliccylinder 144. The base of the cylinder is pivotally mounted to theunderside of frame 40. Its piston is pivotally connected to the lowerend of a lever 146 which is rigid to a substantial drive shaft 148. Theshaft also is mounted to the underside of frame 40. As in the case ofthe drives of the other subassemblies, drive shaft 148 may extend acrossthe entire width of the machine thereby making it possible to serveseveral ofthe nesting subassemblies from a single cylinder 144.

The upper end of lever 146 is coupled pivotally through an adjustingturn buckle 150 to the rearward end of base plate 122 of the ram.Accordingly, by adjusting cylinder 132 between its three positions, theposition of the ram can correspondingly be adjusted to its threeoperational positions.

Suitable control means are provided for controlling the operation of ram120 and drive trolley 70 as required to coordinate these units foraccomplishing the desired nesting and stacking of the I beams. Thecontrol system is not described in detail, comprising as it doesconventional control units. However, one of the key control componentsis illustrated in FIG. 17.

This control component comprises a limit switch 152 which is positionedat the nesting station and serves to coordinate the advancing andretracting motions of ram 120 with the continuous drive of trolley 70.

The limit switch is in an electric circuit with the actuating elementfor cylinder 144. It is supported on a vertical, angular bar 154. Thisbar is several feet long and is mounted on a base plate 156.

A double acting, fluid operated cylinder 158 oscillates the bar in atimed sequence between an advanced dashed line position and a retractedfull line position. In the advanced position its sensing elementcontacts one ofI beams 20 if the latter is in a processing position.Switch 152 then energizes the circuit controlling cylinder 144, as willbe described more fully hereinafter. The Offbearing Conveyor SubassemblyWhen a sufficient number of I beams have been nested together, they areseparated from the train ofl beams accumulating on skid bars 110 andtransferred to a downstream station for bundling preliminary totransporting them to storage or the job site. The offbearing conveyerused for effectuating this transfer is illustrated in FIGS. lb, 2b, and6.

The offbearing conveyer subassembly C basically comprises a tiltconveyer arranged parallel to and lapping the conveyer systemsheretofore described. It rests in retracted position while a nestedstack ofl beams accumulates on skid bars 110. When a stack of thedesired size has accumulated, the tilt conveyer tilts upwardly intooperative position and conveys the stack away.

The tilt conveyer subassembly is mounted on a frame comprising a pair ofchannel members 160 arranged. side by side, parallel to each other andinterconnected by tie plates 162 as well as by a base plate 164.

The downstream end of the frame is supported pivotally on posts 166 bymeans of a pivot pin 168.

The frame is supported intermediate its ends on intermediate supportposts 170 tied to posts 166 and braced by means of longitudinal framebraces 172.

The drive for the offbearing conveyer, which adjusts it verticallybetween the full line retracted position of FIG. 6, wherein the framerests on posts 170, and the dashed line position, wherein it engages thenested I beams, comprises a fluid operated cylinder 174.

The base of the cylinder is pivotally connected to a bracket dependingfrom longitudinal brace 172. The piston rod of the cylinder drives arock shaft 176 by means of bell crank lever 178 which is rigid to therock shaft. As in the case of the drives of the other subassemblies,rock shaft 176 may extend the entire width of the machine and drive allof the offbearing conveyer frames. A link 180 connects the ends of lever178 with a suitabiy positioned bracket on the underside of channelmembers 160.

The latter members mount acarriage which in the elevated position of theframe contacts the nested l beams and conveys them in the downstreamfeed direction. It comprises an elongated box bar 184 positioned betweenthe frames and having a flat upper surface designed to bear against theunderside of the I beams.

The lower surface of the bar engages a plurality of longitudinallyspaced rollers 186 rotatably mounted between channel members 160 andbelow the bar, in longitudinally spaced relation.

The drive for the carriage comprises a reversible chain 188 having itsends pinned to the opposite ends of the carriage.

Drive chain 188 is supported at the upstream end on sprocket 190; at thedownstream end, by sprocket 192. Its lower stretch is supported andguided by an idler sprocket 194 as well as by base plate 164 of theframe.

The drive for the chain comprises a reversible motor 196 connected bychain and sprocket assembly 198 to a drive shaft 200. This drive shaft,too, may extend the entire width of the machine and service severalunits. It mounts a sprocket 202 which meshes with chain 188, therebydriving the carriage reversibly between its retracted full line positionof FIG. 1b and its advanced dashed line position of the same figure.

Positioning means are present on carriage 184 for positioning the nestedstack ofI beams precisely thereon, thereby determining the exact numberof nested l beams loaded onto the carriage.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1b and 6, the positioning meanscomprise a vertical plate 204 to which is bolted a wooden bumper orabutment 206 against which the nested I beams are driven by the actionof ram 120. When the desired number of nested I beams has been locatedabove the offbearing conveyer, cylinder 174 elevates the conveyer frame.This lifts carriage 184 into bearing engagement with the nested l beams,separating the selected number along the separation plane 208 of FIG.lb.

Motor 196 drives the carriage in the outfeed direction to the dashedline position of FIG. 2b. As indicated in FIG. 7, ties 36 then may beapplied to the nested I beams, thereby bundling them preparatory totransferring them to another site.

OPERATION The operational sequence of the hereindescribed I beam nestingand stacking apparatus is as follows:

Referring first to FIG. 7, a stack 20a of wooden I beams, assembled butwithout the glue having been completely cured, isadvanced by means ofconveyers 28 into a glue curing oven 30. After the predetermineddwell'time in the oven, the stack, still in the vertical position, isconveyed out of the oven by the same conveyer. The cured vertical stack20b then is transferred to the rotating infeed conveyer A wherein thecomponent angular cradle members 50 rotate the stack in the feeddirection, thereby converting it to a horizontally disposed stack 20cofl beams having their margins in edge-abutting relationship.

Drive trolley 70 then advances at a controlled and predetermined rate.It engages the trailing I beam and skids all the I beams along skid bars68. This feeds them into the nesting subassembly B, FIGS. 10 and 3.

The function of the latter subassembly basically is to shift thevertical position of alternate I beams until the chords of the same areout of registration with the chords of the intermediate I beams, all thewhile advancing the trailing l beams laterally. This telescopes the Ibeams by lapping the leading and trailing portions of the chords,thereby nesting the I beams.

The sequence by which this is achieved may be explained best withreference to FIGS. 8 to 16 inclusive.

In interpreting these figures it is to be kept in mind that the chordsin edge-abutting relation are driven continually along skid bars 68 bymeans of drive trolley 70 which bears against the trailing one of the Ibeams. The I beams eventually reach tilt plane or step 112 where theytransfer to skid bars 110. The l-beams in nested condition on skid barsare driven intermittently by ram 120. It is in the interval of transferthat the nesting of the I beams takes place.

The sequences are initiated by sensing unit 152 which is always at theaction line 210, but which is represented pictorially only at theintervals at which it functions.

FIG. 8 illustrates the starting condition of the nesting subassembly.Ram is fully extended. The I beams are being pushed continually alongskid bars 68 by drive trolley 70. The leading l beam No. I has droppedonto the upper bearing surface of ram 120 and has energized sensor 152.This causes the ram to retract fully,

FIG. 9, and I beam No. l to drop to the plane of the underlying secondconveyor, in front of the ram.

Continuous progression of the trailing I beams causes I beam No. 2 tobreak over step or tilt plane 112 and accordingly to tilt in the outfeeddirection. At the same time, or just before, ram 120 advances to itsintermediate position of FIG. 10 and pushes the leading I beam No. 1 upramp 114. This causes the l beam to tilt in the infeed direction.

Since the two I beams are on different planes, the consequence is to lapthe leading portions of the chords ofI beam No. 2 with the trailingportions of the chords ofl beam No. 1.

Further progression of the I beams along skid bars 68 now drops tilted Ibeam No. 2 into a position where it is supported partly on the chordsofl beam No. l and partly on the upper bearing surface of ram 120, i.e.,the position of FIG. I].

In this position ofl beam No. 2, sensor 152 is actuated. This extendsram 120 to the fully extended posi' tion of FIG. 12. In this position, Ibeam No. 1 is fully supported on skid bars 110, l-beam No. 2 issupported partly on the chords ofl beam No. l and partly on the bearingsurface of ram 120; and I beam No. 3, being continually driven by drivetrolley 70, is just about to break over step 112.

In the next stage of the operation I beam No. 3 is deposited on theupper bearing surface of ram 120 and is fully supported by the ram. Itwill be noted that its position is analogous to the position ofl beamNo. l in FIG. 8. In this position it activates sensor 152 which operatesto retract ram 120 and the sequence of FIGS. 9-12 inclusive repeats.

This sequence repeats until the predetermined number ofl beams (33 inthe illustrative embodiment) have been nested together. This number iscounted by positioning the nested l beams against abutment block 206 onoffbearing carriage 184, FIG. lb.

At this time a contact element, not illustrated. overrides the action ofsensor 152. This causes the ram to be held in its extended position ofFIG. 14. Drive trolley 72 then will deposit a new No. l I beam on top ofthe ram, as shown in FIG. 15. The ram then fully retracts, as shown inFIG. 16, dropping the No. l I beam to the top of the lower conveyerjustahead of skid bars 110.

The FIG. 16 position of the l beam corresponds to the FIG. 9 position.Accordingly the cycle repeats as previously described and illustrated inFIGS. 9-13 until an additional horizontal stack of 33 nested joists isdeposited upon skid bars 110.

As each horizontal stack of nested I beams is completed, offbearingsubassembly C is activated, FIGS. 1b and 2b. Accordingly, tilt conveyer160 elevates and lifts the nested stack off the skid bars, separating itat the separation plane 208 of FIG. lb. Carriage 184 then advances thestack to the dashed line position of FIG. 1b. This is the bundlingstation at which ties 36 are wrapped around the horizontal stack ofnested I beams, preparing them for conveyance to storage or fieldapplication.

Having thus described the invention in preferred embodiments, we claim:

1. The method for nesting I beams comprising top and bottom chords and aconnecting web, the method comprising:

a. arranging a plurality ofl beams in side by side substantially alignedrelation to each other, b. advancing the l beams laterally, c. shiftingthe first or leading l beam edgewise until its component chords lie on adifferent plane than do the chords of the second I beam, d. advancingthe second I beam laterally relative to the said first I beam until theleading portions of its chords lap the trailing portions of the chordsof the first I beam, and

e. advancing laterally the third I beam relative to the second I beam inthe plane of the first I beam until the leading portions of its chordslap the trailing l5 portions of the chords of the second I beam,

thereby arranging the I beams in nested relationship to each other.

2. The method of claim I wherein the l beams are advanced laterally in asubstantially horizontal plane and shifted edgewise in a substantiallyvertical plane.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first I beam is shifted downwardlyedgewise until its component chords lie on a lower plane than do thechords of the immediately following I beam.

4. The method of claim 1 including the step of tilting the first I beamsideways toward the second I beam in order to facilitate lapping thecomponent chords thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 including the step of tilting the second I beamsideways toward the first I beam in order to facilitate the lapping ofthe component chords thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 including the steps oftilting the first l beamtoward the second I beam and tilting the second I beam toward the firstI beam in order to facilitate the lapping of the component chordsthereof.

7. The method of claim 1 including the step of arranging the chords inedge-abutting relation to each other and pushing laterally on thetrailing I beam for advancing all ofthe I beams simultaneously in alateral direction.

8. The method ofclaim l including the step of tieing the nested I beamstogether into a bundle.

9. The method of nesting l beams comprising top and bottom chords and aconnecting web, the method comprising:

a. arranging a plurality ofl beams in side by side substantially alignedside edge-abutting relationship to each other,

b. advancing the I beams laterally by pushing laterally on the trailingI beam,

c. lowering the leading I beam edgewise until its component chords lieon a lower plane than do the chords of the immediately following I beam,

d. advancing the said immediately following I beam relative to the saidleading I beam while tilting the two I beams towardeach other until theleading portions ofthe chords of the immediately following I beamoverlap the trailing portions of the chords of the leading I beam, and

e. advancing laterally the next succeeding I beam relative to the saidimmediately following I beam while in the plane of the leading I beamuntil the leading portions of its chords underlap the trailing portionsof the chords of the said immediately following I beam, therebyarranging the l beams in nested relation to each other.

10. Apparatus for nesting I beams comprising top and bottom chords and acommunicating web, the apparatus comprising:

a. conveyer means for laterally advancing a plurality of the I beamsarranged in side by side substantially aligned relation to each other,and

b. I beam chord lapping means positioned for receiving the I beams fromthe conveyer means and shifting them edgewise and laterally for lappingthe trailing edges of the chords of a given I beam with the leadingedges of the chords of the next succeeding I beam thereby telescopingthe chords together.

11. The apparatus of claim including I beam tilting means for tiltingone of an adjacent pair ofl beams laterally toward the other forfacilitating the lapping of their component chords.

l2. Nesting apparatus for l beams having top and bottom chords and aconnecting web, the nesting apparatus comprising:

a. first conveyer means for conveying laterally a plurality of the Ibeams in side by side relation to each other in a first vertical plane,

b. second conveyer means including reciprocating ram means arranged asan extension of the first conveyer means for receiving the I beams fromthe first conveyer means and conveying them laterally in a secondvertical plane, and

c. step means positioned for traversal by the I beams as they transferfrom the first to the second conveyer means,

d. the vertical separation of the two conveyer means being greater by apredetermined amount than the thickness of the I beam chords,

e. the ram means operable to advance the I beams laterally whilepositioning the bottom chords of alternate I beams on the secondconveyer means and the bottom chords of the intermediate 1 beams on thebottom chords of the said alternate l beams, thereby telescoping the Ibeams and arranging them in nested relation to each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ram means has an upper bearingsupport surface for supporting the I beams one at a time as theytraverse the step means and transfer to the second conveyer means.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ram means is provided with anupper bearing support surface for the I beams, the plane of said surfacebeing below the plane of the first conveyer means by an amountpredetermined to tilt a following I beam in the direction of a leading Ibeam as it transfers across the step means from the first to the secondconveyer means. 7

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ram means has a downwardlytapered leading end to permit tilting of a following I beam toward aleading I beam as the following I beam transfers across the step means.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 including upwardly inclined ramp means onthe second conveyer means a predetermined distance downstream from thefirst conveyer means for tilting a leading I beam in the direction of atrailing I beam as the leading I beam traverses the ramp means.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second conveyermeans comprise skid conveyers.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the chords on the first conveyermeans are arranged in side edgeabutting relation to each other, whereinthe first and second conveyer means comprises skid conveyer means, andwherein the first conveyer means includes pushing means for pushing thetrailing one of the l beams on the first conveyer means and therebyadvancing all the I beams along the same.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 including upstream from the first conveyermeans and communicating therewith I beam rotating means positioned forreceiving a vertical stack ofl beams, and operable to rotate the stackto a horizontal position and deliver it to the first conveyer means.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 including offbearing conveyer meanspositioned for receiving nested l beams from the second conveyer meansand conveying them to a downstream processing station.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the offbearing conveyer meanscomprises tilt conveyer means lapping the downstream end of the secondconveyer means.

1. The method for nesting I beams comprising top and bottom chords and aconnecting web, the method comprising: a. arranging a plurality of Ibeams in side by side substantially aligned relation to each other, b.advancing the I beams laterally, c. shifting the first or leading I beamedgewise until its component chords lie on a different plane than do thechords of the second I beam, d. advancing the second I beaM laterallyrelative to the said first I beam until the leading portions of itschords lap the trailing portions of the chords of the first I beam, ande. advancing laterally the third I beam relative to the second I beam inthe plane of the first I beam until the leading portions of its chordslap the trailing portions of the chords of the second I beam, therebyarranging the I beams in nested relationship to each other.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the I beams are advanced laterally in asubstantially horizontal plane and shifted edgewise in a substantiallyvertical plane.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first I beam isshifted downwardly edgewise until its component chords lie on a lowerplane than do the chords of the immediately following I beam.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 including the step of tilting the first I beamsideways toward the second I beam in order to facilitate lapping thecomponent chords thereof.
 5. The method of claim 1 including the step oftilting the second I beam sideways toward the first I beam in order tofacilitate the lapping of the component chords thereof.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 including the steps of tilting the first I beam toward thesecond I beam and tilting the second I beam toward the first I beam inorder to facilitate the lapping of the component chords thereof.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 including the step of arranging the chords inedge-abutting relation to each other and pushing laterally on thetrailing I beam for advancing all of the I beams simultaneously in alateral direction.
 8. The method of claim 1 including the step of tieingthe nested I beams together into a bundle.
 9. The method of nesting Ibeams comprising top and bottom chords and a connecting web, the methodcomprising: a. arranging a plurality of I beams in side by sidesubstantially aligned side edge-abutting relationship to each other, b.advancing the I beams laterally by pushing laterally on the trailing Ibeam, c. lowering the leading I beam edgewise until its component chordslie on a lower plane than do the chords of the immediately following Ibeam, d. advancing the said immediately following I beam relative to thesaid leading I beam while tilting the two I beams toward each otheruntil the leading portions of the chords of the immediately following Ibeam overlap the trailing portions of the chords of the leading I beam,and e. advancing laterally the next succeeding I beam relative to thesaid immediately following I beam while in the plane of the leading Ibeam until the leading portions of its chords underlap the trailingportions of the chords of the said immediately following I beam, therebyarranging the I beams in nested relation to each other.
 10. Apparatusfor nesting I beams comprising top and bottom chords and a communicatingweb, the apparatus comprising: a. conveyer means for laterally advancinga plurality of the I beams arranged in side by side substantiallyaligned relation to each other, and b. I beam chord lapping meanspositioned for receiving the I beams from the conveyer means andshifting them edgewise and laterally for lapping the trailing edges ofthe chords of a given I beam with the leading edges of the chords of thenext succeeding I beam thereby telescoping the chords together.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10 including I beam tilting means for tilting one ofan adjacent pair of I beams laterally toward the other for facilitatingthe lapping of their component chords.
 12. Nesting apparatus for I beamshaving top and bottom chords and a connecting web, the nesting apparatuscomprising: a. first conveyer means for conveying laterally a pluralityof the I beams in side by side relation to each other in a firstvertical plane, b. second conveyer means including reciprocating rammeans arranged as an extension of the first conveyer means for receivingthe I beams from the first conveyer means and conveying them laterallyin a second vertical plane, and c. step means positioned for traversalby the I beams as they transfer from the first to the second conveyermeans, d. the vertical separation of the two conveyer means beinggreater by a predetermined amount than the thickness of the I beamchords, e. the ram means operable to advance the I beams laterally whilepositioning the bottom chords of alternate I beams on the secondconveyer means and the bottom chords of the intermediate I beams on thebottom chords of the said alternate I beams, thereby telescoping the Ibeams and arranging them in nested relation to each other.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein the ram means has an upper bearing supportsurface for supporting the I beams one at a time as they traverse thestep means and transfer to the second conveyer means.
 14. The apparatusof claim 12 wherein the ram means is provided with an upper bearingsupport surface for the I beams, the plane of said surface being belowthe plane of the first conveyer means by an amount predetermined to tilta following I beam in the direction of a leading I beam as it transfersacross the step means from the first to the second conveyer means. 15.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ram means has a downwardly taperedleading end to permit tilting of a following I beam toward a leading Ibeam as the following I beam transfers across the step means.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 12 including upwardly inclined ramp means on thesecond conveyer means a predetermined distance downstream from the firstconveyer means for tilting a leading I beam in the direction of atrailing I beam as the leading I beam traverses the ramp means.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second conveyer meanscomprise skid conveyers.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein thechords on the first conveyer means are arranged in side edge-abuttingrelation to each other, wherein the first and second conveyer meanscomprises skid conveyer means, and wherein the first conveyer meansincludes pushing means for pushing the trailing one of the I beams onthe first conveyer means and thereby advancing all the I beams along thesame.
 19. The apparatus of claim 12 including upstream from the firstconveyer means and communicating therewith I beam rotating meanspositioned for receiving a vertical stack of I beams, and operable torotate the stack to a horizontal position and deliver it to the firstconveyer means.
 20. The apparatus of claim 12 including offbearingconveyer means positioned for receiving nested I beams from the secondconveyer means and conveying them to a downstream processing station.21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the offbearing conveyer meanscomprises tilt conveyer means lapping the downstream end of the secondconveyer means.